Machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes.



L. ABRAHAMS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLIPS TO COLLAPSIBLE TUBES. APPLICATION FILED mm 23. 1910.

1,026,234. Patented May 14, 1912.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 21 '15 Ill ll IIHH IIIHHIL b I 8 I ,1, 624

19 1" a 5'- I I C jazzziflhnizazmg 4. 9. 9mm. Z W by L. ABRAHAMS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLIPS T0 COLLAPSIBLE TUBES. APPLIOATION rum) JUNE 23, 1910.

1,026,234. Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEET88HEET 2.

' 8 v glnugnfoz,

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS ABRAHAMS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLIPS TO COLLAPSIBLE TUBES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis Annalmns, a citizen of the'United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Machines for Applying Clips to Collapsible Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for applying clips to collapsible tubes such as are employed for containingplastic materials, as tooth paste, paints and the like.

The object of the invention is in a ready, certain and rapid manner, to apply the clips in such manner as to insure their retention in position against danger of slippage or of detachment when the end of the tube is rolled for the purpose of ejecting its contents.

A further object is so to prepare the tube initially for the reception of the clip that a more stable union is secured between the parts than has heretofore been attained.

lVith the above and other objects in view,

as will'appear when the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and combination of parts of a machine for ap plying tube clips, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed;

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,--Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of a machine capable of carrying the invention into effect. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism hidden from view in Fig. 2. Figs. at and 5 are sectional detail views of the means for closing or compressing the open end of the filled tube and for imparting thereto an initial fold. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the plunger that imparts the fold to the end of the tube. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the means for controlling the feed of clips to the tubes. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view of one form of clip that may be used in sealing a-tube. Figs. 9 and 10 arerperspect-ive detail views of the jaws for crimping or clamping the clip on the tube. Fig.

11 is a view of a portion of a tube, showing the same as it appears when first closed,

prior to receiving the chp.

similar View showing a portion of the tube Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 12 is a Patented May 14, 1912.

Application filedJune 23, 1910. Serial No. 568,597.

with its end folded over the clip, ready to be positioned thereon. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view through the chute or hopper that contains the clips. Fig. 14 is a perspective detail view of a length of stock from which the clips may be constructed. Fig. Il5is a horizontal sectional view take on the line 15-15, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow thereon. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation of a modified form of tube holder. Fig. 17 is an inverted plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the tube holder shown in Fig. 1.6. Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine, showing a modified form of tube holder.

l-teferring to the drawings, 1 designates the pedestal or support of the machine. As shown in Fig. 1, this pedestal is designed to restupon and be bolted to a floor, but if preferred, it may be of a height to adapt the machine to be supported upon a bench or the like.

Secured rigidly to the upper end of the pedestal is a circular table :2, having therein at one point. in its circumference and adjacent to its periphery an opening 3, beneath which is arranged a chute -.l-, the object of opening and chute appearing later on.

Secured centrally of the table and rigidly therewith is an upright 5, upon which is mounted a second circular table (5, which constitutes a tube-holder carrier, and this table may be of the same diameter as the table 2, or greater or less as niay be found expedient or advantageous. The tubcholder carrier 6 is provided with a series of circumferentially-arranged openings 7, which may be of any preferred number and spaced at any desired distance apart, but equidistant. These openings are engaged by tubes 8, that are open-ended, and each of which is provided with a flange 9 to rest upon the table (3 and thus hold the tubc holders out of engagement with the table 2. The tube holders are removable in order to adapt the machine for applying clips of ditl'erent lengths, as by having sets of the holders, a wide 'or relatively narrow clip may be applied merely by removing one set of holders and substituting another therefor.

Securely bolted to the pedestal 1 is an outstanding bracket 10, through which projects a vertically disposed shaft 11, carrythat is engaged by man. rod 30, the upper end of which is pivcarried by the outer end of a counter.

ing at its lower end a miter gear 12, and at its upper end a gear-wheel 13, the latter to mesh with teeth.14, formed on the periphcry of the tube carrier 6. The gear 13, as shown in Fig. 2, is mutilated in order to impart a step-by-step motion to the carrier to permit the machine to perform its cycle of operations as will hereinafter appear. The gear 12 is engaged by a bevel gear 14, shaft 15 journaled in a hanger 16 depending from the bracket 10, the inner end of the shaft having secured thereto a mitergear 17 that engages with a similar gear'18 carried by a vertical shaft 19, housed within the pedestal. This shaft carries near its lowerend a miter gear, 20 that is engaged by a similar gear 21, carried by the inner end of a shaft 22 journaled in a standard 23 on the base of the bracket, the outer this instance, being provided with a pulley 24 to be engaged by a belt driven from a suitable source of power. While this is one means that may be employed for imparting motion to the various parts of the mechanism, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, as the shaft' 22 could be driven from a motor of anyicharacter, and as this will be readily understood, detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

' The gear 18 is engaged by a miter gear 25 carried by the inner end of a shaft 26, the outer portion of which is journaled in a hanger 27 depending The outer end of the shaft 26 carries a disk 28, having projecting therefrom a pin 29 the lower end of a pitoted in the lower bifurcated end of a rod or plunger 31 that works in bearings formed respectively, in a bracket 32 projecting from the hanger 27 and in the table 2.

The upper end of the rod 31 extends some distance beyond the upper surface of the tube carrier 6, and is bent at'right angles tov its length, and thence downward to provide an arm 33, to which is rigidly secured one member 34 of the tube compres sor shown indetail in Figs. 4 and 5. This compressor comprises a aw 34 and a similar jaw 35, the proximate faces of which are oppositely beveled, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to provide a throat 36 ofV shape, and

' which serves to impart to the upper or open end of the tube the contour shown in Fig. The jaw ha. a movement to and away from the'jaw 34, in this instance a sliding movement, and is guided for this result by pins 37 which jaw 35, and slide in orifices in the jaw 34, and to hold the jaws normally in the position shown in Fig. 4, which is the tubecompressing position, coiled springs 38 are employed, as shown in Fig.

end of the shaft in 1 in 'place,

from the table 2.

Y discharge.

are rigid with theopposed faces of which 2, and thus se-' cure the object sought. In order to impart the fold A to the tube T, as shown in Fig. 12, a plunger 39 is employed, which extends laterally through the jaw 34 and intersects the throat 36 its outer portion bent downward at right angles to its length, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide an arm 40 that is arranged in the path of movement of a multi-throw cam 41,

secured to the upper end of the shaft 19, and, of course, revolving therewit From an inspection of Fig. 2, it will be seen that as the cam 41 contacts with the arm 40, the plunger 39 will be forced inward and thus press the jaw 35 away from the jaw 34, against the stress of the springs 38, which latter cause the jaws automatically to resume the position shown in Fig. 4, when the arm has passed one of the cam projections 42 supported upon an upright 43. Se; cured to the table 2 is a chute 44, in which the clips C, one of which is shown in Fig. 8, are supplied. The chute, in order to adapt it to clips of different widths, is made adjustable, and for this purpose embodies a bottom wall 45 and two side-walls 46, having inturned flanges" 47 toretain the clips and outturned flanges 48 thatare secured to the bottom wall by thumb screws 49. The two walls or members 46 are mov able relative to each other, and are held in any desired adjustment by means of the thumb screws. As shown in Fig. 1, the side walls 46 of the chute under all conditions always remain spaced apart to provide a slot 50 into which a suitable implement may be inserted to loosen the clips should they from any cause become clogged. The means for controlling the feed of. clips to the tubes and of preventing more than one escaping at a time is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises two arms 51 and 52 pivoted at like ends to the bottom of the wall of the chute, the arm 52 having connected with it a link 53, and

the arm 51 having connected with it a llnk 54 110 pivoted to the link 53 and to a third link 55, the latter carrying an outstanding curved arm 56, that is arranged in the path of travel of a series of circularly .disposed up-standing pins 57 carried by the tube car- 115 rier 6. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, as'the table 6 revolves and one of the pins 57 contacts with the arm 56, the arms 51 and 52 are swung apart, thus allowing one of the clips to escape, the arm 51 serving 12a to permit this latter function while the arm 52 holds the next following clip against" The means prises two arms 58 and 59, the inner ends of which are provided with jaws 60, the are furnished with serrated or approximately V-shaped indentations 61, this being one form of crimp 130 at its apex. This plunger has for clamping or crimping the I I clips. on the upper ends of the tubes comthat may be employed for imparting tubegripping members to the clips in order to cause them to bite into the metal of the tube and the fold A, and thus secure a firm attachment of the clip to the tube. It will be obvious, however, that any other form of jaw may be employed for this purpose, so long as the gripping members are formed in a rapid and effective manner and without danger of mutilatingthe tube.

The arm 59 of the tube clamp, comprising the jaws 60, is rigidly secured to the upper end of a shaft 62, and the arm 58 is rigidly secured to the upper end of a shaft 63, that sheathes the shaft 62, and is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 64 secured to the table 2. The lower end of the shaft 62 carries an arm 65, and the lower end of the shaft 63 carries a similar arm 66, and dis posed between the opposed faces of these two arms is a cam 67, that is carried by a shaft 68, journaled at its lower end in suitable hearings in the bracket 10 and at its upper end in the table 2. The shaft 68 has rigidly connected with .it a gear 69 that mesheswith a mutilated gear 70 carried by the lower end of the shaft 11.

As will be obvious, after the jaws have operated to clamp or crimp a clip, they must be moved or swung to one side in order to allow the passage thereby of the tube; and

' to effect this result there Is adog 71 projectmg inward from the shaft 63 and arranged in the path of travel of a series of tappets 72' projecting downward from the underside of the tube carrier 6. The shaft 63 is held normally in vertical or operative position,

as shown in Fig. 1, by a coiled spring 73,

one end of which is secured in any suitable manner to the shaft and the other to the 1 table 2. It will be seen by reference to- Fig. 15, that as the tube holder 6 revolves, the

tappets 72 are successively brought into engagement with the inner beveled end of the dog 71, thereby rocking the shaft 63 in the direction shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and thus moving the jaws 60 from and over the tube that has just been operated upon,

and as soon as the beveled end of the dog '71 passes the tube, the spring 73 will then exert its function and return the shaft 61 to its normal position.

In operating the machine, filled tubes are placed within the carriers, and as the table 6 is rotated in the manner described, one of these tubes, will be brought beneath the compressor and its upper end closed in the manner shown in Fig. 11. As this opera tion is completed one of the cam surfaces 12 contacts with the arm 40 and forces the plunger 39, shown in Fig. 6, inward and across thefapex of the throat 36, and thereby imparts the fold A to the tube T, as shown'in Fig. 5. It will be understood that during this opegation the mutilated portion the tube, as shown in Fig. 12. At the next stage of the operation, the tube is brought beneath the jaws'60, and the parts are so timed that the dog by-contact with a tappet 72 will swing the shaft 63 from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown infull lines, thus positioning the jaws over the clip, and the mutilated gear 70 now coming into play, rotates the shaft 68 and the cam 67 whereby the jaws are caused to close and thus crimp or clamp the seal in place. At the instant of the completion of the latter operation, the dog passes from the tappet 72, and thus permits the spring 73 to force the shaft 63 back to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and leave the tube free to move without interference. When the tube comes opposite or over the opening 3, it will escape therefrom and pass down the chute 4 into a suitable receptacle. In order to prevent bruising or denting of the tubes, the bottom and sides of the chute may be lined with some soft material, such as plush or the like.

As will be apparent, in compressing the upper end of the tube to prepare it for receiving the clip, it will be rendered somewhat wider at that end than the remainder of the tube, so that provision must be made to permit the ready discharge of the tube from the tube-holder when the clip has been positioned.' In the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube holders 8 are true cylinders, and are of a diameter to permit discharge of the tube after having had a clip applied thereto. Ithas been found in practice that it is advantageous to support the tubes laterally while undergoing the process of having the clip applied, to prevent buckling or bulging, and to secure this result in a novel manner, in the present invention, two different mechanical appliances may be employed. That shown in Fig. 16 consists in constructing the tube carrier in two semi-circular sections 741 and'75, that are hinged together, the section 741 having secured to it a curved spring 76 that overlaps the section 75 and causes it to remain in contact with the other section. The section 7 4 is provided with a boss or lug 77, through which passes a bolt 78, to secure it to the underside of the table 6. The member 75 is provided adjacent to its point of engage ment with the member 74 with a finger or pin 79, that is designed to engage with an upstanding lug 80, on the .table 2, The parts eration that when the table 6 is stopped to the tube. Of course, it IS this position, the

permit the clamping of the clip upon a tube, the tube carrier containing the tube just operated upon will stop over the dis charge opening 3, but just prior to reaching hinged member 75 of the tube carrier will have been slightly opened, thus to leave the tube free to pass toth'e chute 4. The same result can be secured as to the ready discharge of the tube from the carrierby the arrangement shown in .Fig. 18, wherein the tube carrier 81 is provided with two oppositely disposed grooves or channels 82, to receive the flattened end of i to be understood that while an automatic discharge of the tubes is of advantage, yet, if preferred, they may be removed by hand without departing from the scope of my invention.

The clips will preferably be inade in standard lengths corresponding to the width of the flattened end of the tube, but they may be formed from lengths of metal M, as shown in Fig. 14:, which will be approximately V-shapedin cross-section, and be provided with out-turned beaded edges E. lVhen this form of stock is' employed, a cutting mechanism will necessarily have to be combined with the jaws to efiect cutting off of the ,clips into appropriate lengths after the completion of the crimping or clamping.

It will be seen from the foregoing de scription that while the machine of this invention is simple pose designed, and will result in a pronounced saving of time, labor and material in effecting the sealing of tubes.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes, comprising means for compressing the upper end of the tube, means for imparting a fold to the closed end, means for supplying a clip over the folded end, and means for clamping the clip upon the end of the tube and for forming inwardly extending tube-gripping members inthe clip.

2. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes, comprising means for compressing the upper end of a tube, a reciprocatory member for folding the upper en of the tube, means for applying the clip to the folded end, and means for clamping the clip upon the end of the tube and for forming inwardly extending tube-gripping members in the clip.

3. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising a member having an approximately V-shaped throat to receive the upper end of the tube and com: press the same, a reciprocatory member arof construction, it will i be found thoroughly effective for the pure pressing ranged at the apex of the throat to impart. a fold to the tube, means for applying a clip to the folded end of the tube, and means for clamping or crimping the clip on the tube.

4:. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprlsmg a member embody-' ed end, and means for; clamping or crimping the clip on the tube.

5. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising a rotary table, tube supports carried thereby, a tube compressing member comprising two jaws one of which is stationary and the other movable, a plunger arranged to move within the stationary jaw to force the movable jaw outward to form a fold on the upper end of the tube, means forapplying a clip to the upperend of the t-ube,and means -for clamping or crimping the clip upon the tube.

6. A machine means for actuating the plunger,

for applying :clips to co llapsible tubes comprlsmg a rotary table, 1

tube supports carried: thereby, means for compressing the upper end of :a tube, means for removing the compressing mechanismfto and from the tube, a plunger arranged to coact with the compressingmember to forma fold on the upper end of the tube, a multithrow cam arranged to plunger to'force the latter fold on the tube, means for applying a'clip to the folded end of the tube. and means for clamping or crimping the clip-on the tube.

7. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising means for com the upper end-of the tube, means for imparting a fold to the end of the tube, a

-clip-containmg chute, means for supplying a single clip at a time to the tube, and means for clamping or crimping the clip on the tube. I

8'. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising means for compressing the upper end thereof and for imparting a fold thereto, means for supplying a clip to the closed end, a pair of clamping jaws normally arranged out of the path of movement of the tube, means for bringing the jaws over the tube, and means for closing the jaws to cause the jaws to clamp or crimp the clip upon the tube.

9. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising a rotary table, tube carriers carried thereby, a reciprocatory compressor embodying means for imparting co act with the inward to form a containing chute, means for controlling the passage of clips from the chute, a pair of gripping members normally out of the path of travel of the tube, means for projecting the jaws into operative position relatively to the tube and actuating the same to cause them to clamp or crimp a clip upon a tube, and means for imparting a step-by-step motion to the table whereby to afford time for the cycle of operations of the machine to be effected.

10. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprisin pressing the upper end 0- a tube, means for supplying a clip thereto, means for clampmg or crimping a clip upon the end of the tube, and means for effecting automatic discharge of the finished tube.

11. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprisin means for compressing the upper end 0 a tube, means for supplying a clip thereto, means for clamping orv crimping a clip .upon the end of the tube, a 'multi-part carrler for the tube, and means for automatically releasing the tube from the carrier at a determined point in the cycle of operations of .the machine. I

12. A machine for applying clips to 'col lapsible tubes comprising a. member having an approximately V-shaped throat to receive the upperend of a tube and compress the same, a member arranged at the apex of the throat to impart a fold to the tube, means for applying a clip to the folded end of the tube," and means for clamping or crimping the clip on the tube.

13. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising a member embodying two members, the opposed faces of which are beveled to provide tube-compressing means, one of the members being movable relatively to the other, a plunger arranged to force the movable member outward to provide a fold on the compressed end of the tube, means for applying a clip to means for com-- tube.

the folded end, and means for clamping or crimping the clip on the tube. V

14. A machine for applyingclips to collapsible tubes comprising a movable table, tube supports carried thereby, a tube compressing member comprising a fixed and a movable jaw, a plunger arranged to force the movable jaw outward to form a fold on the upper end of the tube, means for actuating the plunger, means for supplying a clip to the upper end of the tube, and means for clamping or crimping the clip upon the tube.

15. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising means for compressing the upper end of a tube, means for imparting a fold to the end of the tube, an

adjustableclip-containing chute, means for 1 supplying a single clip at a time to a tube, and means for clamping or crimping the clip on the tube.

16. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprislng means for compressing the upper end of a tube, tube supports, means for supplying a clip to a tube, means for clamping or crimping the clip upon the end of the tube, and means for effecting automatic discharge of the finished 17. A machine for applying clips to collapsible tubes comprising means for compressing the upper end of a tube, means for imparting a fold to the end of the tube, means for supplying a clip thereto, means for clamping or crimping the chp upon the end of the tube, a multi-part carrier for the tube, and means for automatically releasmg the tube from the carrier at a determmed point in the cycle of operations.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS ABRAHAMS.

Witnesses:

M. E. SMooT, R. M. ELLIo'rr. 

